I include my abstract, the focus of the disseration, and the guidelines for writing the pre proposal: Abstract Small cell lung cancer poses a particular problem with regard to the question of radiation and memory loss and retention issues. This form of cancer is prone to brain metastases, which is linked to the rapid development of this cancer. Among the various therapies, prophylactic cranial irradiation is a controversial method of radiation that has shown to have positive outcomes in small cell lung cancer patients. However, the concern that is reiterated in much of the literature is that comparatively little is known about the effects of radiation on the brain and especially on long term cognitive and memory loss. The present status of research is compounded by the large number of variables and other concomitant factors that need to be taken into account in ascertaining the effects of the process of radiation. Radiation treatment in these patients has also been problematized by the fact while prophylactic cranial irradiation and other forms of radiation are associated with positive survival outcomes, they are also associated in many studies with neurotoxicity and cognitive as well as memory decline. Introduction This paper focuses on the side effects of radiation treatment in small cell lung cancer patients. While it is not always feasible to separate the impact in studies and tests of treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as these two aspects are often used in conjunction for these patients, the research in this paper has been focused on the affect of various radiation therapies on the memory function and dysfunction of the patient. This particular form of lung cancer is also particularly prone to brain metastases, and controversial radiation treatments such as prophylactic cranial irradiation will be investigated and analyzed. The central aim of this paper is to provide a solid background to the most recent research on the possible way short and long-term memory loss and retention is affected by radiation treatments. Guidelines: 1. General Research Question(s): What is it that the study seeks to investigate? What variables might you examine and how do you plan to measure/analyze them? 2. Rationale for Study: What is the importance of your study? How will your study make a contribution to the field? Why is it needed? 3. Support for Study: What is the theoretical basis for the study? Provide a ‘brief’ narrative of evidence found in the literature that would support the legitimacy of your proposed study. This may include reference to similar studies. 4. Procedures: At this stage, how do you foresee the carrying out of your study? How will data be collected? Where? When? Who will be involved? Writing Guidelines: Describe the overall research problem being addressed in the first couple of sentences and indicate why it is important (e.g., who would care if the problem is solved). Note: You can include a general introduction of the issue in the first sentence, but you need to move to a clear statement of the research problem being addressed. • Identify the purpose and theoretical foundations, if appropriate. • Summarize the key research question(s). • Describe the overall research design, methods and specific data analytic procedures. • Link all findings to the appropriate theories as well as to the conclusions you have drawn • Identify the key results, one or two conclusions, and recommendations that capture the heart of the research. • Conclude with a statement on the implications for positive social change. Please let me know if you have any questions/comments/problems in completing the pre-proposal.